In 1997, Monika Fauth a Dutch traveller exploring the world arrived in Lamu and felt something shift. She was moved by the island’s beauty and generosity. It was here where she met a warm, vibrant Shela local named Banana (Mohamed Ali Mbarak). What began as a chance encounter grew into a partnership that shaped not only their lives but that of the village itself.

With little savings but a lot of heart, Monika and Banana opened a small bed-and-breakfast in their home. He cooked fresh seafood from the day’s catch, she welcomed guests and shared stories about Swahili life and the island. People came for the rooms but stayed for the feeling, the sense of being part of a family, not just visitors passing through.

More than twenty years later, Banana House has become a small but well-loved boutique hotel, known for its Swahili charm and welcoming spirit. Its become a home rooted in community, culture, and the wellbeing of guests and locals alike.

Their hope is simple, that Banana House remains a home where people from all backgrounds can rest, recharge and share stories. Leave inspired to care for the world around them just as Lamu once inspired Monika all those years ago.